Yakov Azriel was born in New York, in 1950, as Gerald Rosenkrantz. After receiving his B.A. in English literature, summa cum laude, at Brooklyn College in 1971, he moved to Israel, where he changed his name to Yakov Azriel. He later completed an M.A., with distinction, and a doctorate in Judaica, concentrating on the stories of Rabbi Nachman of Braslav.

Over 90 of his poems on Biblical and Jewish themes have been published in journals in the U.S., the U.K., and Israel, and his poems have won thirteen prizes in international poetry competitions, the latest being second place in the 2006 Dancing Galliard Sonnet Contest, honorable mention in the 2006 Inspirit Poetry Contest, finalist in the 2006 International Poetry Competition sponsored by Binnacle magazine, semifinalist in the 2005 Pablo Neruda Prize in Poetry Competition sponsored by Nimrod magazine, first place in the 2004 Miriam Lindberg Poetry for Peace Prize, honorable mention in the 2004 Annual Poetry Contest sponsored by Poetica magazine, and fourth place in the 2004 Fifteenth Reuben Rose International Poetry Competition. In addition, he was awarded a fellowship from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture in 2004-2005 for his poetry.

Threads from a Coat of Many Colors is his first full-length collection. This book was a candidate for several awards in the USA, including the National Jewish Book Award in the USA, and in Israel, it was short-listed for the President's Prize for Literature (awarded by the President of Israel), which is one of Israel's most prestigious literary awards.